How many people own thier own RO?

i dont have one yet, i use rodi from the LFS. anyone got one for sale?? i've been researching and think im going with the typhoon 3. if anyone has one for sale pretty quick let me know.
 
I have my own, makes life a lot easier. Cost $150 online (I can get you the type if you'd like), and seeing how much water cost at the LFS, I've already made that back.
 
Most RO/DI units will put out zero TDS water. The difference in a good one and some others is how long they continue at that rate. Do your research and find a good unit. As an example a DI only unit will produce zero TDS water, but the DI resin will exhaust fairly quickly. You really do need the sediment and carbon filters along with a quality reverse osmosis membrane to extend the DI resin life which is the most expensive part. Some money wisely spent up front, will save alot in the long run. Also get a hand held TDS meter to check the quality of water produced.
 
An RO/DI unit is the number one piece of equipment that every reefer should have. Most people seem to like the air water ice units the best. I like the water general units myself. My last one lasted almost 3 years before the TDS went above zero, but that is almost unheard of. I replaced it with another water general unit from ebay, and it has been running around 6 months now, and still at zero tds. The trick i have found, is to detatch the DI cartridge from the unit, and stand it up instead of the lay down position it comes mounted in. When it is laying down, the water tends to channel through the top. When it is stood on end, it is forced to use all of the DI resin. I am also on well water here that is tapped straight into the florida aquafer, so my water is pretty good before it gets treated. My water tests at about 75 TDS straight from the tap. I use my unit for RO drinking water, RO/DI to my ice maker, and RO/DI to a 55 gallon holding container for the tank. I would say i use about 10 gallons per day through the unit though, so i still say the water general units are good units, and well worth the price.
 
Agree with all that an RO is a good investment. Properly run, it will ensure you start with great water quality...ending is all dependent on how you keep your systems.......

We also use ours to supply the refigerator ice maker and a drinking water tap. If your spouse, like mine, wants to have the bottled water due to taste this will save lots and make you look like a minor hero. I have the dual home/reef unit from AirWaterIce. So far very happy with it's preformance.

An RO will also save you lugging lots of water from the local fish stores....as I've seen many people doing.
 
Mine has paid for itself time and time again. It is a very good investment IMO.
 
Not to try to steal the thread or anything... but I have been curious about one of these for a long time now. Do those of you with one have one of these running on your entire house or how does that work? Also... can these things be used if you have a water softner? I thought i was told a long time ago that you couldn't.
 
You can put in one large enough to run a whole house. However, it would create a very large water bill....and they are quite pricey. You have waste water of anywhere from 1 to 5 or 1 to 8 ratio per gallon of RO water made (using a good unit). You can improve this with an additional pump system that recirculates some of the waste water to the feed side of the RO.

If you check the internet you can find whole house systems. Usually only needed if you have really poor water quality (say an "iffy" well or similar) and have few other options.

All that said, people have done them.
 
JKHudson,

I have a Purely H2O vision, not the quickest RO unit out there I'm sure, but it works. Takes about an hour a gal, but I just turn it on in the laundry room when I get home from work and check it after dinner. I don't have a fish room unfortunately, but you can set it up to automatically top of your tank, I never bothered to get all those hook ups. You can see all of Purely H2O's stuff at http://www.purelyh2o.com/.

Dave
 
I have a RO/DI from AquaDirect on Ebay. I have had it for well over a year now with no problems. My water tests in the 250 range and I get 0 afterwards. It sure beats lugging several 5g juggs in and out of the lfs and house. I also have 32g container for mine that keep full mostly.

I think they are great investments if you plan on staying in the hobby for a while.
 
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